Digital cities: Organization, content, and use

Abstract

Digital cities are developing on many places, and settings, aims, design, organization, and functionality differ among the various systems. Do differences in content influence use and users? In this paper we compare two relatively successful but dramatically different digital cities. The study is based on quantitative and qualitative research, using various data. Although digital cities are generally conceived as local information infrastructures, and as a means for enhancing democratic participation, users primarily appreciate it as a tool for communication. We also observed, among others, how cyberspace reproduces the dynamics of ‘established and outsiders’, which inclines us to think that ‘virtual public space’ is not as open as is often claimed.